Top for vehicles and the like



F. K. LEWIS TOP FOR VEHICLES AND THE LIKE Mar.- 3, 1925.

Filed May 5, 1 919 INVENTOB 7 2 4 K Lew/a /3 Y ffT'TOlE/YE v0 Patented Mar. 3, 1925.

'rniinx. Lewis, or ASHTABULA, 01110.

To? non vnnronns AND THE LIKE' Application filed May 5, 1919. Serial No. 294,988.

To all whom it'ma-y concern:

Be it known that I, Finn) K. LnwIs, a citizen of the United States,-and aresident of Ashtabula, county of Ashtabula, and State of Ohio, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Tops for Vehicles and the like, of which the following is a specification, the principle of the invention being herein explained and thebest mode'in which I have contemplated applying that principleso as to distinguish it from other inventions.

The object of the present invention is to provide an outrigger' structure for autonrobile tops otthe so-called one/man? type, which will be capable-of considerably more longitudinal extensionthanin present designs, while still retaining the essential feature of supporting thetop structure wholly from a single main how. More particularly the object is to provide a structure of the character in question, which may be supported from a single rearwardly inclining main bow, so that when the-top is extended the entire tonneau space'forwardlyof such main how will be clear of any obstruction even where such tohneau is'a two-seated one. A further object isftoprovide a structure that may be readilyjmanipulatedto either fold or unfold as desired, without it beingnecessary for the operator to leave the tonneair.

To the accomplishment of th'e foregoing and related ends, the invention, then, consists of the means hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out inthe claims, the annexed drawingand the following description setting forth in detail certain mechanism embodying thelvinvention, such disclosed means constituting, however, but one of the various mechanical forms in which the principle of the invention maybe used,"

In said. annexed drawing Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a top supporting structure embodying my present improvements, such top being shown as mounted on an automobile body or tonneau of conventional form; and Fig. 2 is a similar side elevation showing the top'and such supporting structure in partially collapsed or folded condition.

It is of course a. matter of indifference whether the top is used on automobile, motor-boat or otherwise, and, depending upon its longitudinal extent a smaller or larger number of bows, in addition to the outrigtop coverin ger structure of present interest, may be utilizet. it will also be understood that the term bow is used herein inclusively to designate not merely the wooden bow proper, but also the metallic sockets carrying the same, these parts, when regarded in side elevation constituting the equivalent of the so-called sticks, as they are called in the old wood structure. It is accordingly a matter of convenience to refer to the parts in the singular, as though the structure lay all in a single vertical plane, since the parts of interest do actually he in such a plans.

As previously indicated, the top covering 1 is designed to be entirely supported through an appropriate outrigger structure irorn a single main how 2., The latter, which is of substantial construction in view of the weight it is thus designed to carry, is pivotally supported upon or attached to the body at the point 3 in the usual manner, so that it may be laid down and supported in a substantially horizontalplan'e when thetop is not in use. Normally, in the extended or open condition of the top, said main bow 2 inclines rearwardly at an angle of approximately forty-five degrees to the horizontal, being held from rising higher by the g, or rather by special straps (not shown) or extensions oi the longitucina strainers which, as is well known, are used to connect the bows together and provide supporting means for the top covering intermediately between said bows. For the purpose in hand such straps or strainers be regarded as a part of the covering material.

The outrigger structure comprises a main articulated auxiliary bow, or, as it is sometimes called, outrigger how 6, the latter term referring more particularly to the outer portion of bow 7 proper, which is secured to the main bow 2 by means of an arm 8 (one oueach side of course) pivotally attached to said main bow and to the rear end of such outrigger how, and so constituting the inner portion of said articulated auxiliary bow 6. The point or" attachment of this arm to the main bow is preferably in line vith, or just above, the side edge of the cover, so as to be hidden by the latter, and the joint 9 between said arm and the outrigger bow is a rule oint disposed so as to prevent further bending of the arm in question, when extended in horizontal fashion, as in the open condition of the top illustrated in Fig. 1.

Pivotally attached to the arm 8 is a supplemental bow 10, that in such open condition of the top is designed to extend forwardly at an angle with respect to said arm so as to support the cover 1 at a point approximately midway between the main bow 2 and outrigger how 7. Operatively connecting such supplemental bow with the nain bow 2 is a link 11, the forward end of which is attached to said supplemental bow at a point 12 a short distance from the point of pivotal attachment of said bow to arm 8; while the rear end of said link is preferably attached to the main bow through the medium of a bracket 13 which also serves as the means of attachment of said arm to said main bow. The upper portion of said bracket is preferably bent forwardly at an angle so as to bring the point of attachment of link 11 therewith substantially directly over the point of attachment of the arm 8 to said bracket when the top is in its open position. In other words, the line passing through the two points in question will lie at an angle between 30 and 45 to the median line of main bow 2.

Connected with said supplemental how 10 at a point 14 above the point 12 to W11 1 link 11 is attached, and to said outrigger how 7 at a point 15 beyond the joint 9 between the same and arm 8, is a second link 16, the forward end of which extends beyond such point of attachment 15 on the outrigger bow. In other words, such extended portion of link 16 projects below the plane of said bow 7 when the top is open, and attached to the end thereof is a second outrigger bow 17 which supports the extreme forward portion of the top covering 1. Thus there are in effect provided two out rigger bows which support the forward portion of the top covering, and so permit of a corresponding increase in the longitudinal extent of the latter without requiring a separate forward support resting on the vehicle body. This second outrigger how 17 is freely pivotally connected with said link 16, it being observed that the position of the joint is determined by the angular position of the link which is held in proper place when the top is open, by reason of the attachment of its rear end to supplemental bow 10, the latter being in turn held n fixed inclined position by engagement with a stop 18 on the upper face of arm 8. A separate link 19, however, is desirably employed to connect said outrigger bow 17 with the main outrigger bow 7 so thatit may be supported therefrom without imposing too much strain on the cover mater al between the two bows.

Said link 19 furthermore serves to corre late the movement of the two outrigger bows when the top is being folded. as will be evident from an inspection of Fig. 2. This same figure clearly illustrates the manner in which the other component parts of the top supporting structure fold up; in other words, the links 16 and 19 maintain the supplemental bow l0 and the two outrigger bows 7 and 17 in substantially parallel relation during such folding operation, and equally during the unfolding of the top. lin order to fold or collapse the top, it is merely necessary to break the joint 9 by pressing down thereon. whereupon the wei ht of the parts naturally tends to cause the several bows to fold up in the manner just indicated. As these drop back upon the main bow 2, the latter will fall rearwardly into the approximately horizontal position indicated in dotted outline in Fig. 2, with the bows 10, 7 and 17 folded closely thereagainst, the links that operatively connect said last mentioned bows lying alongside thereof.

T he structure is thus seen to be unusually compact in its folded condition, and yet when extended an adequate support for a top of considerable longitudinal extent is provided without any obstruction in the way of a forwardly inclining main bow, or braces or links that lie below the side line of the top covering. The various component bows are joined together by the employment of a minimum number of connecting parts, which need not be of specially heavy construction, in order to afford a rigid and entirely satisfactory support.

It will be understood of course that when the top is extended, the second or extreme forward outrigger bow is attached or tied down to the wind-shield as indicated by the dotted line at the right of Fig. 1. The top, however, is self-supporting save as jars or the wind might tend to tilt it bodily about the single pivotal support 8 upon which the whole structure is sustained. Except for link 11, it will be observed that the first outrigger bow and along therewith the whole outrigger structure swings freely about the JOlIli) of attachment of said bow to the main bow or support; and that in the open position of the top said link sustains the outrigger structure, being under tension the while. It will furthermore be noted that the joint 9 in the outrigger bow lies slightly above a line connecting the point of pivotal connection 12 of link 11 with supplemental bow 10 and the point of pivotal connection 15 between link 16 and first outrigger bow. This insures that the outrigger structure will maintain itself in open position without any tendency to drop and does away with the necessity of any special securing means such as has heretofore been found necessary for this purpose.

As in the foregoing description, the two bows 7 and 17 may be regarded as first and second outrigger bows in the order named, the first of said bows being of two-part articulated construction, and the second likewise of articulated construction but of more than two parts; in other words it is connected with the main bow through the medium of the two links 11 and 16, despite the fact that the latter are attached to the supplemental bow at separated points 12 and 1 1.

Other modes of applying the principle of my invention may be employed instead of the one explained, change being made as regards the mechanism herein disclosed, pro vided the means stated by any of the following claims or the equivalent of such stated means be employed.

I therefore particularly point out and distinctly claim as my invention 1. In a top for vehicles and the like, the combination of a main bow; a two-part articulated outrigger bow having its rear portion pivotally attached to said main how; a supplemental bow pivotally attached to such rear portion; a link pivotally attached to the forward portion of said outrigger bow and intersecting the same in the open position of the top; a second outrigger bow attached to the forward end of said link, the rear end of the latter being attached to said supplemental bow; and a second link pivotally attached at one end to said main bow and at its other end to said supplemental bow below the point of attachment of said first link thereto, the rear portion of said first outrigger bow swinging freely about its point of attachment to said main support, except for said second link, and the latter being under tension in the open position of the top, and the joint in the first outrigger bow lying above a line connecting the point of attachment of the first link with the supplemental bow and the point of attachment gf the second link with said first outrigger 2. In a top for vehicles and the like, the combination of a single rearwardly inclined main how; a two-part articulated outrigger bow having its rear portion pivotally at tached to and wholly supported from said main bow and thence inclining forwardly and upwardly in the open position of the top; a supplemental bow pivotally attached to such rear portion; a link pivotally at tached to the forward portion ofsaid outrigger bow; a second to the forward end f said link, the rear end of the latter being attached to said supplemental bow, so as to support said second outrigger bow in substantially horizontal position when the top is open, and a second link pivotally attached at its respective ends to said main and supplemental hows, the rear portion of said first outrigger bow swinging freely about its point of attachment to said main support, except for said second link, and the latter being under tension in the open position of first outrigger bow lying above a line connecting the point of attachment of the first link with the supplemental bow and the point of attachment of the second link with said first outrigger bow.

Signed by me this 1st day of May,

FRED K. LEWIS.

the top, and the joint in the v outrigger bow attached 

